Chris Johnson thinks he’s capable of 2,000 yards this year

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 21, 2014, 7:32 AM EDT

AP

Jets running back Chris Johnson is one of just seven players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, having gone for 2,006 in 2009. Now Johnson thinks he can do something that no one has ever done: Run for 2,000 yards in a season more than once.

That seems awfully unlikely: Johnson hasn’t even reached 1,400 yards in any season since that breakout performance in 2009, and his yards per carry average has declined to a career-low 3.9 last year. But Johnson still believes in himself.

“I don’t feel like I’m getting older or I lost a step. I still feel good. I still feel explosive,” he said. “I just know the type of player I am, I’d never sell myself short.”

A 2,000-yard rushing season is still one of the great individual accomplishments in the NFL, something that only Johnson, Eric Dickerson, Adrian Peterson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and O.J. Simpson have done. If Johnson becomes the first player ever to reach 2,000 yards twice, he’ll be well on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the reality is, in a Jets offense that plans to spread the ball around, Johnson will have a tough time getting 1,000 yards. Another 2,000 yards is a pipe dream.

Even if you did 2k yards again you still aren’t worth the $8m per season you have been getting. No RB is worth more than $4m per season. Not even delusional old AP, who seems to think the NFL would collapse without him.

It must be oldtimers delusion day. First Vick with the “i’m the original running QB” and no CJ .5k talking about running for 2000 yards. What’s next, Chad Johnson coming out of retirement wearing his oversized “future hall of famer” jacket?

This sure has become an annual offseason ritual for him. Might as well have Rex Ryan predict playoffs, a Seahawk get caught with PED’s, and Favre come out of retirement. We already have Vick over hyping himself again and everyone picking Peyton Manning’s team to win the SB.

I think he can do it. Not a Jets fan, but they like to run the ball, and they have a good oline. Commenters need to stop acting so high and mighty. I would love to see Chris Johnson go for 2,000. Or anyone for that matter. That’s why we watch the games. To be entertained. I’d rather see Chris Johnson go for 2k, than watch the passing yard/passing TD record fall…again. Talk about washing out those records.

Guys need to stop yapping about it and just perform. Legarrett Blount said the same thing before the 2012 season…how he was going to lead the league. He was benched during the pre-season for Doug Martin.

Settle down people. He just answered a question about does he still think that he has a 2000 yard season in him. Do you expect him to say no? Lots of haters out there. Guy has never missed a game and makes defenses have to respect the threat of his speed. I bet he has a bounce back year.

As happens every season, today is the first day of summer and the Jets have won this coming season’s Super Bowl already as they always predict this time of year.

Fran Tarkenton is still laughing about Michael Vicks comments and Chris Johnson is projecting getting over 1000 + carries to get to 2000 yards but then again when Geno Smith is your QB the ground game is your only hope. Rex Ryan is dead man walking as Idzik wants his own flunky.

Five more years until Jets fans can celebrate their Silver Anniversary of Super Bowl less seasons as most Jets fans cannot even remember.

Well so far this off season I’ve learned, Lesean McCoy is the best RB, then AP is the best RB, then AP is the player overall, Chris Johnson is going ot rush for 2000 yards, Johnny Manziel is the second coming of God and hasn’t played a down in the NFL, Ray Rice wants to fight in the UFC, and Desean Jackson is a crip.

Reporter: CJ, do you think you’re still capable of rushing for 2k yards in a season?

CJ: No. I’ve notably slowed and gotten soft with the last contract. My hearts not really in it… but I’m happy to collect a check.

Seriously peoples… What is he supposed to answer. You can’t play any professional sport at that level without supreme confidence. Will happen? Of course not. Am I surprised by the answer? I’d be shocked if the answer was anything else.

Whats he supposed to say when the media asks him if he feels like he can still do it? People act like the Jets players are on the corner of Broadway and Park Place just talking for the hell of it. LOL @ dolphins fans (specifcally hehateme2) talking trash about the Jets. I think your a little salty he chose the Jets over the doofins and you wound up with the great Knowshon Moreno who isn’t even getting any reps in OTA/Minicamp. Thats what happens when you wind up with the 9th choice for a new GM. Making a QB joke is also funny cuz I’m pretty sure it was Geno (0 picks) who outplayed Tannehill (3 picks) when the playoffs were on the line and the Jets had nothing to play for.

You do have to like the confidence….well maybe you don’t haha. Believe it or not, teams like confident players. Also, like others have said, I wouldn’t expect CJ to say he COULDN’T do it. What player dogs their own ability to the press? However, as a Titans fans I feel I’m more than qualified to comment on this particular subject. Jets fans….don’t get your hopes up. EVERY season since his 2000 yard season he said he was going to do it again….he has yet to even come close. He may have a good year, but I’ll be shocked if he even comes close to 2000 though.

Just once I’d love a CJ story to be about how good he thinks his TEAM is and what they might accomplish instead of what HE’S going to do. You don’t get labeled selfish just because people are mean…he’s selfish. Nothing wrong with telling the truth.

Also if can comment on a diffrent CJ story right quick. When he said the Titans were nasty for not releasing him at the start of free agency. Once again, selfish! In CJ’s head it was OK for him to hold out for more money. Which he had the right to do. But when the team holds on in hopes another team that wants his services will bite at the chance to trade for him, that’s nasty. The Titans had every right to hang on in attempt to trade him. But once again, me me me me. He was right though, the titans already have CJ regrets…. it’s that contract no one wanted any part of!

Let me know when any of the running back you guys like rush for 2k and as far as Vick does whether you like him or not he is a trendsetter and I guarantee you would be singing a different tune if he was on you’re team

Why would anyone want someone to not think they were capable of great achievement? Do you want your players to think they can only be good at best? He didn’t say he WILL get 2,000 yards, only that he is still capable of it and doesn’t want to play when he thinks he isn’t. I can admire that sentiment. It was like when Pete Rose had 44 hits to go to break Ty Cobb’s record and a reporter asked him how many at bats do you think it will take you to get 44 hits and he immediately said 44 at bats. When given the chance to explain or backtrack on his comments Rose said, “As a hitter, if you don’t think you’re going to get a hit each time you’re in the batter’s box then you don’t belong there.” You’ll only ever be as great as you believe you can be.